I was walking through our very large local
grocery store. Many people were shopping. As I pushed my cart up and down the walkways,
I spotted several women displaying different food products. They were
positioned at small tables in the middle of the largest aisle.

One lady was setting up jars of jam, and
offering shoppers samples of the product. Appearing very efficient, she
explained the jam was made with fruit and a small amount of jalapeno pepper.
Visitors were given a choice of mild, medium, or hot jam on crackers. I chose
mild, brought the sample to my mouth, and swallowed.

Suddenly I started coughing. I decided to stay near
the table for a few minutes while recovering. The woman gave me a small amount
of sour cream and suggested I put some in my mouth. “It always helps when
people start coughing.” she said. It took a few minutes but the coughing gradually
stopped.

No other shoppers were at the table. I asked who
made the jam. She responded saying “I created the jam” and proceeded to
tell me the contents.

Our
conversation shifted on to other topics. She shared a bit of her history.

A few years ago, she lost her job and found it
difficult to find another. She had been processing jam for twenty-fife years
and wondered whether she could do anything with that talent.

Finding information about jam was imperative and
time was spent scouring the computer for information. As days went by she found
herself on the computer up to sixteen hours.. More time was spent studying processing,
passing government requirements, and finding an appropriate kitchen. After a
while, she passed the government statutes, and got off the ground.

Next,
she looked for places to sell her jam.

The big box grocery stores were the first
target. Those approached had no interest in taking on a fledgling jam producer.

Much smaller stores provided people who would
listen.

Gradually, stores began selling her jam.

She continued learning and making a better
item.

Since
that time, our supplier has learned and improved her product.

Instead of sitting at home watching television
and wringing her hands, she has spent her time working to build her business
and to improve her life.

Before I left the table, I told her I was proud
of her.

What
would do if you suddenly lost your job?

Do you have talents waiting? Would you have the
energy and drive to start a new career?

I hope this does not happen to you. But, it does
happen to many people. Those who have talents, thoughts, incentive, may be able
to create a new business.

If you have faced this I invite you to write a
comment. Maybe this will help another person facing this.

It took a while to warm up to the idea
but, after considering the concept, I decided to participate in one planned for
our community.

Our local Recreation Center advertised
through the local newspaper, cable television, internet e-mails, and street
signs. Garage sale information and a map were also made available.

My husband got wind of the idea. He
had been discussing the large amount of non-used material residing in our
basement, and what could we do with it all. We made a visit to the lower level of
our home and realized the indoor sale might be a way to send items to a different
home.

I decided to phone the Rec. Center and
sign up for a table at the upcoming sale. This resulted in a new status. I was
now a Vendor for the upcoming event.

O.K. so what is an Indoor Garage Sale?
And, what on earth does a person with that title do?

The representative from the Rec.
Center sent potential Vendors well written information on what was expected
from us. Here are some of the topics they presented:

Vendors would be allowed to set up on
either Saturday, from 6-8 pm or on Sunday, at 10 am.

The sale was to begin at 11:00am
sharp!

There
were Rules. These stated:

· Exhibitors will receive one 6 foot table and a chair to
display items

· Tables will be labeled with your name and number

· Doors will open to the public at 11am.

· The sale runs from 11am-2pm.

· Vendors are responsible for their own monies and change

· No alcohol, illegal items or weaponry is allowed on site

· Vendors are required to remove all unsold items at the
end of the sale

· Vendors have until 3:30pm on Sunday to remove their items

We were assured that, in case there
were items not sold; Goodwill would pick up any unwanted merchandise at 3:15pm
on Sunday. There was to be a location designated for donations.

Where
to start when you have less than a week to gather items you no longer want or
use?

I must confess to never having been a
Vendor in the past. Questions ran through my mind. Here are examples:

·How
would I get the items into the building and where was the room?

·Would
other Vendors help?

·Would
I be able to place everything on the table?

·How
much and in what denominations of coins and paper money, should I bring?

It turned out that my husband was available
and took a lot of time helping me. He also selected items to sell, organized
and placed the objects. He came up with great ways to carry the items into the
Rec.Center and to take them home again.

We had one very unusual item, a large
box of greeting cards. These had been given to us by a friend who knew they could
be used to make holiday cards. The card backs had been removed but the box was
filled. I wanted to know if anyone would take cards for future use. I was
hoping they would offer some of these for art projects.

I had opportunities to meet with other
Vendors before and during the garage sale. Several had never tried selling at
this type of sale. Others, more confident, were helpful with information. All
were very receptive.

What
surprised us:

·Most
shoppers looked at my display,

·Customers
met and spoke with me.

·Each
asked the price.

·All
wanted a lower price.

·All
bargained.

·Some
wanted to take a portion of an item.

I did
sell a small number of things. These included:

·A
wall mirror

·A
small picture

·A
large coffee holder

·Leather
gloves

Unfortunately, no one wanted any of
the cards.

Thinking they could be recycled, I offered
them freely to everyone at my table. They could be used by children making art
projects, but no one would take them.

Would I
do this again? I’m not sure. It was a good experience and I learned a lot. Ask
me next year.

Best wishes to all of you who
participate in yard, garage, and estate sales. You are helping the recycling
effort.

Lori Blatzheim

Lori Blatzheim is a wife, mother, grandmother,
writer, thrift advocate, cable television producer, and retired nurse. She
knows that use of Thrift can help people because she has experienced the
benefits.

I haven’t crossed the bridge yet and continue to send cards
through the postal system.

However, I have found a way to reduce the cost of the cards.

Our family has been saving greeting cards for a number of
years. I have reasons for doing this. Here are some:

·Looking through old cards reminds us of people
we knew long ago. Some of them have passed away and others have moved to a now
forgotten address.

·The cards are lovely.

·I don’t feel it respectful to toss them in the
trash as soon as the major event has passed.

·Cards represent thoughts of people who once
spent time sending them to us.

What has been done
with the saved cards?

There is a special area in a closet where old cards are kept.
As the late fall and winter holidays draw near they are brought out and placed
on a table.

The cards are divested of their written words. Those with
beauty, interest, or humor on the front page are kept for another trip through
the postal system.

Card stock and sticky circles are used to put new cards
together.

The inside of the
card is blank. Something must be done.

A message must be included. It doesn’t have to take up all
the space but we hope it appears sincere and appropriate.

This takes time and thought. We include a reference to the
Holiday and our hope that they have a happy experience. We share some of our
activities and plans.

As I write on the inside of the card, I think of people who
will receive it. I remember times we have been together, our families, our
children, and what our friendship has meant to us.

At the end, we slide the card into an envelope and address
the exterior.

The card will be sent on; to a place we might not know, on a
plane or truck that will carry it to a different destination.

We are linked together in memory.

Lori Blatzheim

Lori Blatzheim is a wife, mother, grandmother,
writer, thrift advocate, cable television producer, and retired nurse. She knows that use of Thrift can
help people because she has experienced the benefits.

Are you a Senior? Do you have a friend or relative who is considering
retirement or has already retired? Check out this web site: Retire and Renew:

Are prospective students
ready for University or College when they arrive?

Consider some things
they have to learn:

·Location of all major
dorms, buildings, classes, stores, and environment

·Obtaining books and
supplies

·Meeting roommates,
instructors

·Attending classes and
Learning expectations for the coming year

It takes a while for
students to come to grips with living on their own.

Learning to handle
finances while a student.

All students have to
manage their financial assets. Those who have been working for money, saving a
portion of their income, and budgeting their assets, may have a head start.
But, there are students who have not had experience to do all the above.

Does anyone help the
student? Is this information available at the University or College they
attend? How can they find help?

“Live Like a Student
Now”

A few weeks ago, I was
reading a metro newspaper, the Star Tribune, and stumbled on a very special column. The
title was “U gives lessons in living like a student”. This was written by Maura
Lerner, the
higher education reporter, for the Star Tribune. It
appeared in a column, “On Campus”, http://www.startribune.com/local/229015791.html

I knew immediately that
she was referring to the University of Minnesota and that it had something to
do with money and how it is spent. I wanted to know more.

I learned that staff of
the University of Minnesota offer a thirty minute crash course in money
management. One staff member Nate Peterson, Assistant Director of the U’s One
Stop Student Services, offers advice on how students can make the most of their
money.

I was stunned. I had
never heard of a University or College offering this opportunity. I decided to
contact Nate Peterson and asked him to contribute to this post.

I asked him questions and he gave me answers.

1. Who determined that students of the
University of Minnesota needed more information on fiscal literacy, the
students and/or the staff?

a. With student debt continuing to grow
across the nation, staff members from the University of Minnesota put together
financial literacy outreach efforts to help students understand finances in all
aspects of their lives.

2. Who put the program together?

a. The Welcome Week program is put
together by a team that includes One Stop Counselors, communications and
graphics specialists, and students.

3. How long has the program been available
to the students?

a. The program (in its current form) has
been offered to students for more than 3 years.

4. How do you find your students, by
conversation, discussion, observation, advertisement, or questions from the
students? Is there another way?

a. The presentation is given to students
as part of the welcome week program. We work to educate students about
smart financial decision. The content is reviewed each year but students
and staff to ensure we are hitting on relevant topics. Each year, we have
the opportunity to present to over 5000 new students.

5. Is there a cost for the crash course or
ongoing program?

a. There is no cost for students to attend
our events.

6. How do you determine whether the
students benefit from the class? (Is there a way?)

a. At the conclusion of Welcome Week,
students are given an evaluation, where questions are asked about the
effectiveness of the program, content, knowledge gained, and
satisfaction. We inform are practice based on these responses.

7. What do you think is the most important
information that you can share with students?

a. Decisions in spending are in their
hands. They have the power to make decisions about discretionary spending
and credit that can impact the rest of their lives. The sooner they are
able to educate themselves about finances, the better.

8. Which techniques seem to work the best?

 It all depends on the
learning style of the students. Sometimes, our students like to learn on
their own, and in that case the internet is the best option. Our digital
signage is a quick way for students to get a nugget of knowledge that they can
hopefully apply in their worlds. Classroom presentations are valuable in
that we are directly working with students and can tailor the information to
their needs.

If you have any thoughts, suggestions, or information you think I
should include, let me know what it is?

 Live Like a Student is an
ever-evolving financial literacy outreach tool that utilizes student feedback
and growing national trends to help students learn and grow in their knowledge
base.

I would also like to know if you know of other universities or
colleges that have a program of this type.

 I have seen financial
literacy efforts popping up at many colleges throughout the nation. We
partner with the University of MN Duluth on many things, and I have been
contacted by other MN colleges to help them begin efforts.

Additional ways to provide fiscal literacy to students

Nate Peterson and his team present discussions in classrooms on
request. In addition, there are online posts and information flashed on video
screens across campus.

I found some helpful posts available for students online. It was
surprising to see suggestions for:

·Periodic money tips and
financial news

·Money tip slide show on
digital screens

·Maps for activities and
inexpensive fun near campus

For more information on
the University of Minnesota program go to one of these web addresses:

Special thanks to Maura
Lerner and Nate Peterson for help with this post.

I suggest incoming
University or College students and their families determine whether financial
information is available at the site they plan to attend. Hopefully support is
available.

Lori Blatzheim is a wife,
mother, grandmother, writer, thrift advocate, cable television producer, and
retired nurse. She knows that use of Thrift can help people because she has
experienced the benefits.

Are you a Senior? Do you have a friend or relative who is considering
retirement or has already retired? Check out this web site: Retire and Renew:

I may have some pieces that are considered
important, but most of the objects are things that evoke a feeling of visual
pleasure. I think that part of the pleasure of collecting is to go out and find
that great object and then introduce it into your environment."

-James Marinaccio in Art and Antiques October
2001

The consequences of collecting

I have been collecting items from estate and
home sales for a number of years. Some have presented objects of rarity and beauty.
These have included pottery, glass, and costume jewelry.

I have used strategies to find the best sales.
Newspaper advertisements used to list sales. Now, the internet has become the
best way to find sales.

As a young wife and mother, I talked my neighbor
and friend into coming along on my Saturday search for items of interest. We
worked together. After assessing the list of sales, we created a map. This helped
us save on gas and on time as we travelled about in the car.

We looked for special types of merchandise, and
concentrated on those pieces that made our home more interesting.

When we were young, my husband and I spent
time in large stores which require cards to enter. I remember Fedco, Price Club
and a few others. They prepared and presented a lot of items needed by young
families. These included clothing, household, stationary, furniture, and
groceries come to mind. Their prices were reasonable and below the amount
charged by other stores.

As these clubs faded into our history,
we were introduced to Costco and Sam’s. We paid a membership charge. We started
spending time in very large buildings offering members
low prices on quality merchandise. There were a lot of benefits. We liked most
of the products and appreciated the low prices.

We drove home with very large
bundles to a fully prepared residence.

Years
later, we find ourselves with fewer people, less need for lodging, an
overfilled refrigerator and no need for more household items.

It appears we no longer require a
membership warehouse club.

Currently we are suffering from
too much largess. In view of that, I now purchase food, gasoline, furniture,
and household needs at local stores. I no longer drive distances to the
membership store. I strive to purchase an amount equal to our needs.

I
have news.

As we age, we come upon a time
when “not so much” is needed, required, or purchased.

Our memories of large family
celebrations and small children recede into a time long ago.

Lori
Blatzheim is a wife, mother, grandmother, writer, thrift advocate, and retired
nurse. She knows that use of Thrift can help people because she has experienced
the benefits.

Are you a Senior? Do you have a friend or relative who is considering
retirement or has already retired? Check out this web site: Retire and Renew:

I was set to write an
article about GPS (global positioning system), the worldwide navigation system
that uses information received from orbiting satellites. I looked at a variety
of devices. They were priced from $100-$300 for a budget version. Considering
the price, I didn’t see advantages in owning one.That’s when a friendly voice cleared my head.

Enter someone who
likes her GPS

Last night I spoke with my daughter. I discussed with her my
plan to write a post about GPS. I had been concerned that people would lose the
ability to know where they were, and what was beyond the glass windows.

My daughter began telling me about benefits she had found from
using her GPS. Here are some of the advantages she discovered. She learned that
the GPS:

Guides the driver to maneuver
the car through the best possible route and avoid heavy traffic

Helps locate the vehicle if it is stolen

Helps find a parking spot and locates the vehicle quickly
on return.

Sends an alert message if the vehicle deviates
from the route.

Fnds the nearest emergency center or service
station.

Why we haven’t used
GPS

My husband and I have been driving cross country for years.
We memorized the states, roads, and distances long ago. When traveling
somewhere, we studied the land map and selected a route.

We tried GPS a few times but decided we did not need all the
prompts. My husband had an aversion to having a woman’s voice tell him where to
go.

While traveling, we spent time in different States. We viewed
the landscape, learned from people we met, and positioned in our minds the
location of the State in our country.

We marveled at the roads which took us hundreds of miles.
Some were two lane local highways and others were wider, newly built, roadways.

With time, we taught our children to read maps. They viewed
lines representing highways and learned to find cities, National Parks,
historic sites, oceans, rivers, mountains and our destinations. When older they
could calculate distances.

I realize that GPS
devices will probably become the way to go when travelling.

Maps may, eventually go out of style. Families will still
travel to a variety of sites. Navigation will be assisted by a machine.

However, I hope people will still teach their children about
the States, where they sit on maps, how they connect with other areas, and why
it is important to remember the beauty and history of our country.

As for me, I will
remain a person who reads and appreciates a good map.

Lori Blatzheim is a wife, mother,
grandmother, writer, thrift advocate, and retired nurse. She knows that use of
Thrift can help people because she has experienced the benefits.

Are you a Senior? Do you have a friend or relative who is considering
retirement or has already retired? Check out this web site: Retire and Renew:

A comment was made that “most of us (seniors) are doing OK”.
A suggestion was made that “maybe we can still help to carry our nation’s
burdens.”

I was stunned and concerned that someone would challenge
discounts for seniors. Apparently this is a topic some people are studying.
They are exploring statistics on numbers of seniors, income received, and types
of discounts available.

Why do businesses
offer discounts to seniors?

The article suggested businesses can make money by targeting
seniors. It seems they are the largest and fastest growing marketsegment.

I also read that seniors are cheap and that some make
frugality a hobby.

I discussed this
article with a family member

We came to these conclusions:

It is better for a business that seniors visit and spend
money at the site.

Older people may have a flexible schedule not available to
others. (They can attend an early show.)

Shopping by seniors may result in a larger income for the
business.

Older shoppers may buy things not appreciated by a younger
audience.

Seniors may bring those not eligible for a discount, to the
business.

Our final thought was, if the business is losing money, the
leadership will not offer a discount.

Research on this
topic.

Just to make certain this was not the only printed discussion
on this topic, I checked the Internet and came up with some additional posts on
the topic of senior discounts.

You are bored to death.
The children want something to do. You check current newspapers and internet to
see if any free activities are available.

You see a notice about
an Art Fair. You have never been to an Art Fair and you know very little about
painting, drawing, sculpture, or anything else which might be presented.

What do you think? Why
not try attending. It will give you something to do and, after all, it is free!

Let’s assume you decide
to attend an art fair in your home community or area. You are going to view a
lot of things produced by people hoping their work will attract visitors.

You will see many
different items, in many different styles. You will decide what you like and
what you don’t like. At most art fairs, the creator of the art will be there to
speak with you, your family members, and friends. Your group will be able to
make comments and ask questions about the art piece.

I would like to introduce you what you might see at an Art Fair

I live near Excelsior
MN. This city is perched on the side of a very large lake. A piece of land
provides a site for community events.

I would like to
illustrate what you may find if you attend an art fair.

I plan to do this through
photographs. I received permission from the artists to present examples of
their work.

They
use a lot of different materials. These include metal and more, wood, paint, fabric,

mosaic material, camera and lens, glass, copper and wood.

If you do attend an Art
Fair, I hope that you and your group enjoy yourselves. It can be a pleasant
experience and an opportunity to learn from the artist.

Art is an entity produced by those
who consider it important. It requires thought, practice, and desire to produce
something which will satisfy others. Art has no boundaries. It does not belong
to one branch of work. It belongs to the creator of the work and the person who
owns it.

Lori Blatzheim

Lori Blatzheim is a wife, mother, grandmother, writer, thrift
advocate, and retired nurse. She knows that use of Thrift can help people
because she has experienced the benefits.

Are you a Senior? Do you have a friend or relative who is considering retirement
or has already retired? Check out this web site: Retire and Renew:

For many years I have purchased a large number of
garments and accessories. Most of these were bought with the help of coupons.
Occasionally I have gone to a second hand store to see what was available. I
did purchase jewelry and an occasional jacket. I have worn them all.

It occurred to me that the second hand clothes market and
the stores have changed. They have seemed cleaner and more organized. The sales
clerks are friendly and go out of their way to guide customers to desired
styles.

Where can shoppers find
used clothing?

Following an online list of second hand clothing stores
in our community, I drove around looking for women’s clothing stores. A Clothes
Mentor store was listed. Unfamiliar with the title I decided to check out the
store.

First Impressions

I parked the car and walked towards the store. A banner
listing Clothes Mentor crowned the entrance. Windows displayed clothing that I
planned to see within. The door was easily reached. It opened to a large
grouping of clothes, accessories, shoes, scarves, purses, and jewelry. There were
two women at a desk, smiling and asking if I needed help.

It was fun visiting with the sales staff, and walking around
the site. I succeeded in selling a dress from home. Because of their
friendliness and helpfulness I asked for an appointment with the owner.

Two weeks later, I drove to the site and met the owner.

My conversation
with Stacey, the owner.

It didn’t take long for us to get acquainted and begin a
conversation.

I learned that there are several types of second hand
stores. These include:

Large stores offer many types of clothing for men, women
and children.

Consignment stores contain clothing, owned by a non-staff
person. This is offered in the store. If it is purchased by a customer, the
original owner will receive money.

Resale stores where an owner presents
clothing to the staff of the store. If accepted, the original owner receives cash
on the spot!

Items being sold at Clothes Mentor include clothing, shoes,
belts, purses and jewelry. Merchandise is available for sizes 0 –26 plus
petite and maternity clothes. The store has numerous stylish and brand-name
items. The amount paid for
consigned items varies based on condition, style, brand and demand. .

·The staff will purchase clothing from all seasons and present it
too shoppers at the appropriate time.

Other aspects of managing a store filled with
previously worn clothing.

Sometimes
the staff makes mistakes and the store is left with items which do not sell. If
this happens the clothing may be donated to charity.

The
staff will purchase clothing from all seasons and present it too shoppers at
the appropriate time.

Clearance
sales are held twice per year. They begin at 50% off and go on to 70% off. The
sales are presented on a 3-2-1 format.

Who shops at Clothes Mentor?

This
store has a faithful clientele. Women from their early twenties to their
eighties frequent the site. Some women come only to sell clothing. Others come
to buy the merchandize. There are women who do both.

Dressing Rooms

A
number of dressing rooms are available and customers do use them. The staff
prefers returning merchandize to the appropriate area of the store. Although
shoppers want to be helpful, the staff knows where each item belongs.

I
began this blog with two questions:

Have you ever worn second hand clothes?

Have you ever visited a second hand clothing store?

I can answer these with a “yes.”

I hope that you will consider visiting second hand
clothing stores near where you live. By checking out the merchandise you will
decide if this is for you. I wish you luck.

Lori Blatzheim

Lori Blatzheim is a wife, mother, grandmother, writer, thrift
advocate, and retired nurse. She knows that use of Thrift can help people
because she has experienced the benefits.

Would
you like to see photos of the interior of the Clothes Mentor store in Eden
Prairie, MN?

Dollar Stretcher, Inc. does not assume responsibility for advice given. All advice should be weighed against your own abilities and circumstances and applied accordingly. It is up to the reader to determine if advice is safe and suitable for his or her own situation.